The Time Will Come #12

Jodie over at Books for Company is hosting a Thursday meme. It's really easy to join in. Here's what you have to do:

• Pick a book you have been meaning to read
  
• Do a post telling us about the book
• Link the post up in the linky
• Visit the other blogs!
  

• Need by Carrie Jones
  

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear.

Surprise, surprise this is another that I have just completely forgotten about. I'm not sure why but I'm not really excited by this series but I still want to read it. Hopefully some time soon!

Happy reading!

Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls #1
Publisher: Orchard
Publication date: April 25th 2006
Source: Bought
My Rating: 6/10

Summary:

Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses - but it's really a school for spies. Cammie Morgan is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti). But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for is what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl.

Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without his ever being the wiser, but can Cammie have a normal relationship with a boy who can never know the truth about her?

My thoughts:

This book was a nice introduction to the world of the Gallagher girls. Far from normal, these girls attend a school for geniuses training to become spies. Of course, they're still high school age so get up to all sorts of mischief just in a slightly different manner!

I liked the plot of this book. It was simple but really fun to read about. I was on edge at times thinking characters were going to get caught and then if they did I was anticipating what was going to happen to them.

It's definitely a fun read but the problem for me was that the writing didn't stick with me. I was a little put off by it for some reason and at times I felt like I was missing key details. I started to think it was me reading to fast so I would keep going back to read parts again to find that I hadn't missed anything.

I really feel that this author has a very particular writing style that some people will really love and some people will just find okay. Make no mistake, it wasn't bad writing, it just wasn't suited to my likings.

What I loved most about this book was how the characters interacted. It was made clear from the start that the Gallagher girls might as well be sisters and they are to be treated as such by each other. They're all growing up in the same environment totally different to normal teenagers their age so technically the only people they can depend on is each other. I loved that. It was such a strong aspect of the book and it shone through each and every character and still managed to accentuate how different each one of them was.

Overall, this read was alright for me but some will enjoy it more. I definitely do want to have another shot at the second book in the series and see if it gets any better!

Books in the series:

• I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You
  
• Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
  
• Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover
  
• Only the Good Spy Young
  
• Out of Site, Out of Time

Challenges this counts towards:

1. 100 Books In A Year
   
2. New Author Challenge
   
3. TBR Pile Challenge
   
4. Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Happy reading everyone!

2012 January Wrap Up

Can you believe another month has passed by already?

Even though we're a few days into February now I thought I would do a wrap up post for January.

Books I read:
linked to Goodreads

• The Court Painter's Apprentice by Richard Knight
  
• Barking Mad: A Reginald Spiffington Mystery by Jamieson Ridenhour
  
• Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt
  
• Seizure by Kathy Reichs
  
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
  
• Entangled by Cat Clarke
  
• Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  
• Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
  

Books I've reviewed:
linked to reviews

• The Court Painter's Apprentice
  
• Revealing Eden
  
• Seizure
  
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone
  
• Entangled
  

Challenge Progress:

• 100 Books In A Year: 8/100
  
• New Authors Challenge: 6/25
  
• Horror And Urban Fantasy: 1/24
  
• Speculative Romance: 1/12
  
• Ebook Challenge: 2/25
  
• Why Buy the Cow: 0/12
  
• Zombie Challenge: 0/6
  
• Immortal Reading: 1/12
  
• TBR Challenge: 3/21-30
  
• Book Blogger Recommendation: 2/10
  

Happy reading everyone!

On My Wishlist #46

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

After reading Starcrossed this week I only have one book on my wishlist and that is:

• Dreamless by Josephine Angelini (Starcrossed #2)
  

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

Happy reading everyone!

Review: Starcrossed

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Macmillan
Publication date: 03/06/2011
Format: Paperback - 528 pages
Book source: Bought
My rating: 10/10

Summary:

Destiny brought them together. The Gods will keep them apart.

When shy, awkward Helen Hamilton sees Lucas Delos for the first time she thinks two things: the first, that he is the most ridiculously beautiful boy she has seen in her life; the second, that she wants to kill him with her bare hands.

With an ancient curse making them loathe one another, Lucas and Helen have to keep their distance. But sometimes love is stronger than hate, and not even the gods themselves can prevent what will happen . . .

My thoughts:

I've really been on a roll since my exams finished. The last few books I've read over the past couple of weeks have been absolutely fantastic and this one was no exception.

I don't really have much to say without spoiling the book for those of you who haven't read it apart from just how good it really is!

Normally I hate books where there is some sort of instant connection between characters whether good or bad but this one was different somehow. When I read on I realised that if the characters didn't have this connection the book just plain wouldn't work. I found myself really enjoying the character's interaction and how it changed drastically between them throughout the story as it progressed.

I also adored the settings. The story was set in this reality where Greek mythology comes to life. It was new to me and so exciting I really didn't want to ever finish this book. To be honest, it's quite a long read packed with all sorts of things happening but it literally felt like it was over way too fast!!!

As for the characters themselves they were really well written. They each had a lot of depth in their own ways and I liked each and every one for very different reasons.

A lot of questions remain unanswered with this one so I really can't wait for the next book in the series to come out for me to get stuck into!!

I seriously recommend this one to anybody who likes a good read full of suspense, mythology and fast paced action.

Books in this series:

1. Starcrossed
   
2. Dreamless
   

Challenges this book counts towards:

1. 100 Books In A Year
   
2. New Author Challenge
   
3. TBR Pile Reading Challenge
   
4. Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Happy reading everyone!

The Time Will Come #11

Jodie over at Books for Company is hosting a Thursday meme. It's really easy to join in. Here's what you have to do:

• Pick a book you have been meaning to read
  
• Do a post telling us about the book
• Link the post up in the linky
• Visit the other blogs!
  

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.

This is another that I just haven't picked up for no reason I can identify whatsoever. Hopefully I can get round to it sooner or later!

Happy reading everyone!

Review: Every Other Day

Title: Every Other Day
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Quercus
Publication date: 2nd February 2012
Book source: Finished copy received from publisher.
Paperback: 329 pages
My rating: 8/10

Synopsis:

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She argues with her father. She's human. And then every day in between ... she's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty - four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon - hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway ... even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her, but unfortunately she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive ... and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

My thoughts:

When I got this book through the letterbox and saw that it was by Jennifer Lynn Barnes I cannot tell you how excited I got. I love, love, love Raised by Wolves!!!

This book was something else entirely though. I really enjoyed its originality and the intensity of the action that occurred right from the very start.

For me the most amazing part of the book was the plot. At times reading this book gave me an adrenaline rush just from how exciting it was. The plot was chocked full of action packed fights and suspense filled conversations adding to the mystery of Kali's 'condition'.

And Kali's 'condition' for lack of a better word was probably the best part about the read. It was like a constant countdown to something really great happening or something really dreadful. A constant waiting game.

Of course, I can't carry on this review without talking about Zev. An essential character completely shrouded by mystery. Even at the end of the book nothing much is revealed about Zev but it seems better that way somehow. I feel like if everything was revealed about him he wouldn't have made as big as an impact in the story as he was supposed to.

The only real criticism I have is that, for me at least, the ending was way too abrupt. I felt a little frustrated with the way it ended because so much effort was put into Kali getting to the end and then it just stopped with no real ending.

Overall I definitely recommend this read to absolutely everyone who likes this kind of read because it is well, well worth it.

About the author:

Jen is the author of the hugely popular Raised by Wolves series. As well as an author, Jen has been a competitive cheerleader, a teen model, a dancer and is now a primate cognition researcher. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science and had her first book published when she was nineteen-years-old.

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Challenges this book counts towards:

1. 100 Books In A Year